Washington vs 
Arizona
Take-home pay after federal tax, state income tax, and FICA — calculated with the same engine as our paycheck calculator.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Winner at $100k
Washington
Extra take-home / year
$1,885
Per month
$157
Over 10 years
$18,850
Moving from Arizona → Washington at $100,000
Metric vs metric
Lower tax and cost figures generally favor the highlighted cell. Rate structure notes sit under each state's calculator link.
| Metric | Washington | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 0% · No state income tax (0%) | 2.50% · Flat 2.50% |
| Combined sales tax | ~9.57% | ~8.54% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.75% | ~0.48% |
| Cost of living index | 114.6 | 107.6 |
| Median household income | $90,800 | $71,200 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Washington rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
Arizona rate structure
Flat 2.50% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Overview
Washington has no state income tax, while Arizona has flat 2.50%. Staying in Washington (vs Arizona) saves about $1,885/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~9.57% vs ~8.54%. Property tax: ~0.75% vs ~0.48%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $90,800 vs $71,200.
Take-home by income
Net pay after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA — single filer, standard deduction, no dependents (2026). Advantage is take-home in Arizona minus Washington.
| Gross | Washington take-home | Arizona take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,048 | $41,105 | −$943 |
| $75,000 | $61,131 | $59,718 | −$1,413 |
| $100,000Headline | $78,565 | $76,680 | −$1,885 |
| $150,000 | $112,869 | $110,041 | −$2,828 |
| $200,000 | $147,697 | $143,927 | −$3,770 |
| $500,000 | $337,402 | $327,977 | −$9,425 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 21.4% in Washington vs 23.3% in Arizona. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Washington vs Arizona
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Washington | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $0 | $2,500 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $78,565 | $76,680 |
| Effective total tax rate | 21.4% | 23.3% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,547 | $6,390 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~9.57% (Washington) vs ~8.54% (Arizona); effective property tax ~0.75% vs ~0.48%.
Pros & cons: Washington vs Arizona
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Washington
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Arizona's state tax
- About $1,885/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Arizona
- Higher median household income ($90,800 ACS 2024 vs $71,200)
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~9.57% vs ~8.54% in Arizona)
- −Higher effective property tax (~0.75% vs ~0.48% in Arizona)
- −Higher cost of living index (114.6 vs 107.6; 100 = US average)
Arizona
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~8.54% vs ~9.57% in Washington)
- Lower effective property tax (~0.48% vs ~0.75% in Washington)
- Lower cost of living index (107.6 vs 114.6; 100 = US average)
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 2.50%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $1,885/year less take-home at $100k vs Washington
- −Lower median household income ($71,200 ACS 2024 vs $90,800)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Washington wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Washington: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Arizona's state tax
- Washington: About $1,885/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Arizona
- Arizona: Lower combined sales tax (~8.54% vs ~9.57% in Washington)
- Arizona: Lower effective property tax (~0.48% vs ~0.75% in Washington)
How we calculate Washington vs Arizona
Tax engine. Federal income tax uses 2026 IRS brackets and the standard deduction for a single filer. FICA includes Social Security and Medicare employee shares. State income tax applies Washington's and Arizona's rules as modeled in our US calculator (No state income tax (0%) vs Flat 2.50%).
What's included. Wage income only — no capital gains, self-employment tax, itemized deductions, credits, or local city wage taxes (e.g. NYC) unless noted. Sales tax (~9.57% vs ~8.54%) and property tax (~0.75% vs ~0.48%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (114.6 vs 107.6, 100 = US average) and median household income ($90,800 vs $71,200) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Washington → Arizona relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Washington vs Arizona taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Washington → Arizona?
Model cost-of-living equivalent salary, or open each state's paycheck calculator with your filing status and deductions.
Related tools
Estimates only for tax year 2026. Not tax advice — verify with your state tax agency or a CPA before relocating. Figures assume a single filer with the standard deduction and no dependents.